Boiler Blog | Nationwide Boiler Inc.

National Safety Month, observed each June, is an annual campaign that is dedicated to raising awareness about the leading cause of preventable injuries and deaths. Sponsored by the National Safety Council (NSC), this month-long event is focused on enhancing safety in homes, workplaces, and communities through education and advocacy. By emphasizing proactive measures and fostering a culture of safety, National Safety Month aims to protect lives and promote well-being across the nation.

In alignment with the NCS’s approach, Nationwide Boiler will also be dedicating each week of June to a specific safety topic and strives to share this information to a wider audience. Last week we focused on ergonomics in the workplace.

Ergonomics in the Office

Ensure Proper Posture: Maintaining correct posture is crucial for safeguarding your back. Many individuals tend to slouch or hunch over their desks while working without realizing it. While seated, maintain a natural slight arch with your back, ensuring your head and shoulders remain erect. If necessary, customize your chair to have relaxed elbows, comfortable hand placement on the table or desk, knees bent at a 90-degree angle, and feet flat on the floor.

Establish An Ergonomic Workplace: The work environment significantly influences your comfort and musculoskeletal well-being. It is important to remember not to adapt your body to the workplace, but to tailor your workspace to accommodate your body. Make sure your computer screen is positioned at eye level to eliminate the need for leaning forward. Invest in ergonomic office equipment engineered to offer back support and encourage correct posture.

Incorporate Regular Breaks: Make sure to take regular breaks during your workday to boost productivity and overall well-being. Set aside a few minutes every hour to get up and do some light stretching exercises. You can start by placing your hands on your lower back and gently arching backward to relieve tension. Additionally, consider taking short walks to the break room, another spot in your remote workspace, or around the office to break up your sitting time.

Ergonomics in the Shop

Work In A Comfortable Position: Whenever possible, position your work materials at waist height to reduce strain. Arrange your workspace to keep essential items easily accessible and within reach. Another option is using adjustable furniture and workstations to accommodate varying needs and preferences for a comfortable working posture.

Prioritize Safe Lifting: To prevent strain on your back, refrain from bending or twisting when lifting objects. Instead, bend your knees and keep your back straight when lifting items from the floor to ensure safe handling. It is important to seek assistance when handling heavier loads or utilize lifting aids to reduce strain and minimize the risk of injuries.

Selection Of Tools: Go for tools equipped with ergonomically designed handles that feel comfortable to hold, thus reducing strain during extended use. Selecting the appropriate tool for each task not only boosts efficiency but also lowers the chances of experiencing repetitive strain injuries and discomfort.

As we wrap up our focus on ergonomics, we emphasize the importance of caring for your body by creating a comfortable workspace for long-term health and productivity. Nationwide Boiler prioritizes the safety of our employees and will continue to share valuable insights to foster a safe culture. Celebrate National Safety month with us and stay tuned for another safety topic next week!

Nationwide Boiler, established in 1967, has built a strong standing reputation by offering reliable rental boilers to assist industrial companies in both scheduled outages and unforeseen emergencies.

Featuring a diverse inventory of more than 100 boilers across various U.S locations, our equipment spans in size from 50 HP to 200,000 lb/hr and includes mobile package watertube boilers, fully equipped mobile boiler rooms, and skid mounted systems. Over the years, our company has expanded our capabilities, evolving into more than just a world-class rental boiler company. We are a stocking distributor, a UL-certified control panel design and manufacturing facility, and we provide sustainable solutions such as electric boilers, hydrogen blended fuel firing capabilities, and our CataStak™ Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) System.

As our company continues to evolve, we adjust to the changing times by providing environmentally friendly alternatives within the boiler industry. This involves the utilization of SCR and ultra-low NOx burners to manage NOx emissions, along with the integration of heat pumps and alternative fuel choices for the purpose of decarbonization.

Ultra-low NOx Solutions

Our journey into sustainable solutions commenced in the 1990’s with the introduction of the CataStak SCR to the market. The CataStak is an established solution for lowering NOx and CO emissions to single-digit levels, tailored for applications with package boilers, fired heaters, gas turbines, and other fired equipment. Equipment utilizing a CataStak SCR system has yielded source test results as low as 1 ppm NOx.

Recognizing that SCR technology may not be suitable for every application demanding ultra-low NOx performance, we serve as a supplier and user providing other options like ultra-low NOx burners. Several of our mobile boiler rooms and package firetube boilers incorporate these burners to comply with emissions standards in various regions of California and Texas. Therefore, we also deliver ultra-low NOx burners for permanent requirements when the application aligns better with burner technology.

Alternative Fuels for Decarbonization

Exploring alternatives to fossil fuels offers an additional avenue for sustainable steam and energy production. These alternatives encompass hydrogen, biofuels, and electricity, preferably sourced from renewable sources.

A preferred electric approach for high-pressure steam generation involves the use of electric boilers. Leveraging electricity as a clean, efficient, and easily controllable fuel, every unit of energy input into the boiler is converted to steam with an efficiency of 99%. Numerous industrial facilities possess the required power infrastructure to support an electric boiler, rendering it an optimal zero-emissions solution. Nationwide Boiler’s in-stock electric boiler packages are available for both rental and permanent applications.

Heat pumps are also a favored option for electric heating in comfort applications and, with ongoing technological advancements, are now being applied in industrial settings. Although heat pumps may not currently produce high-pressure steam, they can contribute to industrial processes by providing heat up to 240°F. Also, a heat pump is significantly more energy-efficient, utilizing only about one-third of the energy compared to traditional electric or fossil fuel heat-generating equipment for achieving the same temperature increase.

Lastly, hydrogen and biofuels are now being utilized more frequently as an environmentally friendly alternative to the prevalent use of natural gas or fuel oil in steam boilers. Hydrogen, a proven and low-emission fuel in the boiler industry for several years, offers virtually no carbon emissions. With experience and expertise in hydrogen and biofuels, our engineering group has confirmed that Nationwide Boiler’s existing fleet of package watertube rental boilers can effectively use blended fuels containing up to 20% hydrogen, with no need for system modifications. Originally designed to accommodate natural gas firing, this adaptability is made possible by our strict rental boiler construction standards, which integrate high-quality and robust components such as valving, fuel trains, burners, and more.

Drawing from our extensive history and the collective years of industry experience, our team is dedicated to providing trustworthy temporary rental boilers, sustainable solutions for steam generation, and more, all guided by the principles of "Integrity, Dependability, and Real Customer Service."

To learn more, please explore our website or reach out to us at (800) 227-1966.

Learning and performing proper water treatment will protect your boiler system from tube damage and corrosion, and can also contribute to maximizing boiler efficiency. In this edition of Boiler Basics 101, we will discuss the consequences of improper water treatment and how to implement a proper water treatment plan.

If feedwater is not treated properly before entering the boiler, a chemical imbalance can initiate the formation of scale. Scale is the accumulation of mineral deposits, primarily calcium and magnesium, on the internal surfaces of the boiler.  These minerals have the potential to precipitate from the water and bond to surfaces, creating a layer that may result in harm to boiler tubes, reduced boiler efficiency, and potential for ruptures. Proper water treatment methods, such as the use of water softeners and deaerators, reverse osmosis, and chemical additives to condition the water, must be employed to prevent scale formation.

1. A water softener will remove the calcium and magnesium content in the boiler’s water supply. This effectively “softens” the water before it enters a boiler and removes the minerals that are often the cause of scale in a boiler.
2. A deaerator should be utilized to mechanically remove oxygen from the water before it enters the boiler. This will prevent boiler tube failure.
3. Reverse osmosis can also be used to aid your boiler. Reverse osmosis is a process that can be used in boiler water treatment to purify and condition the water by using pressure to filter out any hardness and impurities.
4. Chemical treatment is also necessary to ensure proper water conditioning alongside the mechanical treatments listed above. Typically, the chemicals used for treatment purposes are an oxygen scavenger, scale inhibitor, and an amine to treat the steam system piping.

It is important to note that from a rental perspective, it is the customer’s responsibility to maintain the water treatment conditions of their rental boiler to avoid equipment damage and additional repair charges that can result from improper water treatment procedures. It is recommended that the services of a reputable boiler chemical consultant are retained in order to supervise the water treatment conditions on a regular basis. Weekly tasks should include maintaining daily boiler logs, conducting chemical treatment tests, providing a report from the chemical treatment consultant, and sharing maintenance records with your rental boiler supplier.

All boilers are subject to damage if proper water treatment procedures are not followed. This is an important consideration both during operation and when the boiler is idle. Maintaining a water treatment plan will not just extend your boiler’s lifespan and the durability of its components, but it will also facilitate long-term cost savings. It is an investment that pays off in the form of lower energy costs, fewer repairs, reduction of costly down time, and compliance with regulations; all contributing to long-term cost savings.

Make sure to explore our earlier Boiler Basics 101 articles and keep an eye out for the upcoming edition!

The boiler rental business began over fifty years ago, solving multiple industries’ need for temporary and emergency steam. Nationwide Boiler was at the forefront of the boiler rental industry, starting off with one of the first mobile rental boilers; a 20,000 lb/hr, 300 psig design, O-type package watertube boiler. This boiler was designed for permanent use on a highway-legal open deck trailer, making it a true mobile boiler. This new idea allowed companies to cut capital costs, save time, and be more efficient in their operations. Now, rental boilers are available for small-scale projects to industrial sized applications.

In last month’s edition of Boiler Basics 101, we discussed why rental boilers are a great choice for boiler owners in a variety of industries. To continue the topic, we will now discuss the different types of rental boilers currently on the market.

Trailer-Mounted Boilers

• Permanently installed on highway-legal trailers for easy transport by truck
• Boilers of various sizes up to 125,000 lb/hr, both saturated and superheated steam
• Detachable goosenecks and booster extensions allow for easy removal when space is limited
• Not protected from the weather and precautions must be taken for freeze protection (heat tracing and insulation or temporary housing shelters)
• Separate feedwater and water treatment systems and other auxiliaries can be provided to support the boiler, as needed

Skid-Mounted Boilers

• Shop-assembled package boilers, without any true mobility
• Available in capacities up to 250,000 lb/hr
• Depending on the size of the boiler, skid-mounted boilers can be transported on a flat-bed trailer, step-deck trailer, or by rail
• Cranes and/or forklifts typically required for both loading and offloading
• Not protected from the weather and precautions must be taken for freeze protection (heat tracing and insulation or temporary housing shelters)
• Separate feedwater and water treatment systems and other auxiliaries can be provided to support the boiler, as needed

Containerized Mobile Boilers

• Typically includes a package firetube boiler, installed inside a container and mounted on a chassis for mobility
• Ideal for users who need a boiler-only package that is weatherproofed for outdoor operation in the wintertime
• Separate feedwater and water treatment systems and other auxiliaries can be provided to support the boiler, as needed

Mobile Boiler Rooms

• Complete steam plants, self-contained within enclosed vans, with all equipment required to produce steam:
  • *Package firetube boiler
  • Atmospheric feedwater system
    • * Water softener
    • Chemical injection tank
    • * Blowdown separator
• Typically available in capacities up to 1,000 hp
• Weatherproofed and better suited than alternatives for outdoor operation in the wintertime

Mobile Steam Plants

• Similar to a mobile boiler room, with all equipment required to produce steam
• Equipment is installed on an open, step-deck trailer
• Not protected from the weather and precautions must be taken for freeze protection (heat tracing and insulation or temporary housing shelters)

Transportable Steam Plants

• Complete steam plant, normally built inside of a standard 20 or 40’ shipping container
• Available with either a vertical or a horizontal boiler arrangement depending on requirements
• Cranes typically required for both loading and offloading
• These systems accommodate less capacity than a mobile boiler room
• Popular for overseas and government projects, due to ease of transportation 

Each type of rental boiler system explained above has their own unique advantage and may be better fit for one user over another. The requirements of operation, however, are the same: end-users must supply a fuel source (natural gas, #2 oil, propane, or other fuel), electrical power supply, and make-up water. Which type of rental system is best fit for your unique operation?

Nationwide Boiler maintains an inventory inclusive of all types of boilers listed above, ranging in size from 47.5 hp to 200,000 lb/hr. Visit our website to find a complete listing of rental boilers available, and contact a Nationwide Boiler Sales Representative for additional details and pricing. 1-800-227-1966